Passover

Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays. It lasts for seven or eight days, usually in March or April. The holiday tells the story of how the Jewish people were freed from slavery in ancient Egypt. Families gather for a special meal called a seder.

The Passover Story

Long ago, the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. A leader named Moses asked the Egyptian king, called Pharaoh, to let them go. When Pharaoh said no, ten terrible plagues struck Egypt. After the last plague, Pharaoh finally let the Jewish people leave. They left in such a hurry that their bread did not have time to rise.

The Seder Meal

The seder is a special dinner with prayers, songs, and stories. A seder plate holds foods that represent parts of the Passover story. Bitter herbs stand for the hard life of slavery. A mixture called charoset represents the mortar used to build bricks. Instead of regular bread, Jewish people eat flat, crispy bread called matzah during Passover. The youngest child asks four special questions during the meal.

Fun Facts

• Matzah is flat because it represents the bread that did not have time to rise.
• During the seder, children search for a hidden piece of matzah called the afikomen.
• Passover is over 3,000 years old, making it one of the oldest holidays still celebrated today.

Did You Know?

The word 'Passover' comes from the story that God 'passed over' the homes of the Jewish people during the tenth plague in Egypt.